Zero setup, zero cost
Everyone already has a Google account, the doc is free, and you can start typing in ten seconds. For a brand-new or short campaign, that is hard to beat.
Compared
Storywright vs Google Docs
Almost every table starts in a Google Doc — it is free, everyone has it, and it just works. It keeps working right up until the campaign gets big. This is an honest look at where a shared doc stops being enough, and where it is still the right call.
The short answer. Pick Google Docs if your campaign is young or short, you want zero setup, and a single shared document plus real-time editing is genuinely all you need — it is free and universal, and that counts for a lot. Pick Storywright once the doc starts to sprawl: when you are scrolling to find an NPC, when players want their own space, and when writing the recap by hand every week becomes a chore. Docs is a blank page everyone knows; Storywright is structure built for the campaign so you are not maintaining that structure by hand.
| Feature | Google Docs | Storywright |
|---|---|---|
| Built around | A general-purpose shared document — a blank page you can type anything into. | The session loop and a linked world — NPCs, places, arcs, sessions, and journals that connect to each other. |
| Structure | Whatever headings and conventions you invent and remember to keep up. Nothing is linked unless you link it by hand. | Typed, cross-linked entities out of the box — "who is Verrin?" is one click, not a Ctrl-F through a wall of text. |
| Session recaps | You write every recap from scratch, or the doc becomes an ever-growing log nobody re-reads. | Recaps drafted from your session notes; you trim and publish, and players get a briefing before the next game. |
| Players | Everyone edits the same document, or you juggle several shared docs and permissions. No private per-player space by default. | Each player gets their own journal, private notes, and character goals — separate from the GM’s prep, free on every plan. |
| GM secrets | One misplaced share setting exposes your notes; keeping secrets means a second, carefully-guarded document. | GM-only by per-item default — what players see and what you keep are separate without you managing it. |
| Collaboration | Best-in-class real-time editing and comments — a real strength. | Shared, but structured: players contribute in their own journals rather than editing your prep. |
| Pricing & access | Free with a Google account; universally available. | Free tier for the GM; one paid tier (GM Pro, $9/month or $90/year); players free forever. JSON export on every plan. |
Comparison reflects the general practice of running a campaign in Google Docs as of July 2026; Google Docs is general-purpose software with no TTRPG-specific features.
Where Google Docs shines
Real-time collaboration
Live co-editing and comment threads are genuinely excellent — for group brainstorming or a shared session-zero document, Docs shines.
Total flexibility
No structure means no constraints. If your campaign notes do not fit any tool’s model, a blank doc always will.
Where Storywright shines
It scales past chapter one
The doc that was perfect at session three is a scroll-hunt at session thirty. Linked entities and a session tracker keep a long campaign navigable instead of buried.
The recap writes its first draft
Instead of a blank recap every week, Storywright drafts one from your notes. That single change is what keeps recaps actually happening.
Players get their own space
Separate journals and private notes for each player — no shared-doc chaos, no accidental spoiler in the wrong paragraph.
Do you have to pick one?
Plenty of tables keep a freeform Google Doc for session-zero notes and loose brainstorming, and move the living campaign — sessions, recaps, player journals — into Storywright once it grows. Export from either keeps the door open both ways.
Questions GMs actually ask
Can I just run my campaign in Google Docs?
Absolutely, especially early on — it is free, universal, and needs no setup. The friction shows up as the campaign grows: finding an old NPC, keeping GM secrets safe, giving players their own space, and writing every recap by hand. That is the point where a structured tool earns its keep.
Is Storywright worth paying for over a free Google Doc?
For a small or short game, a free doc may be all you need — and Storywright has a free tier too. The paid tier makes sense when the doc starts costing you time: linked entities, a session tracker, drafted recaps, and per-player journals replace upkeep you are otherwise doing manually.
How do I keep GM secrets in Google Docs?
Usually by maintaining a second, private document and being careful with share settings — one wrong click can expose it. In Storywright, notes are GM-only by per-item default, so the separation is built in rather than something you police.
Can I move my notes from Google Docs into Storywright?
There is no automated importer for freeform documents. Most GMs bring over the entities their current campaign actually uses — a few dozen NPCs and places — rather than copying everything. Storywright’s JSON export then keeps that data portable.
Google Docs and other product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Storywright is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by them. This is an independent comparison; competitor facts reflect publicly available information on the review date noted above and may change — check the vendor for current details.
Try it on your real campaign.
Free to start. Free for your players, forever. JSON export on every plan — if it isn’t for you, your world leaves with you.